Brazil chase elusive Olympic gold
20 July 2012 01:58
Brazil captain Thiago Silva insists his team are not favourites to win gold in football at the London Games.
Mano Menezes' impressive squad has been touted as the team to beat after an impressive qualifying campaign.
Silva, who will lead a squad including the likes of Neymar, Alexandre Pato and Hulk, said there were other teams to consider ahead of Brazil.
"Every team here is strong, but there's always a favourite," the Paris Saint-Germain defender said.
"It is inevitable not to look at Spain or Uruguay and not say that they are the favourites for the title.
"But football is difficult, we cannot be talking a lot off the field because inside you may be surprised."
Brazil have won two silver and two bronze medals in football at the Games, including a third place finish in Beijing.
Menezes also played down his side's chances and said it was up to his team to show what they are capable of.
"You never start a competition as the champion. No one does," he said.
"But whoever does that is committed to success. You only become the champion during the competition."
Brazil face Stuart Pearce's Great Britain in a warm-up game at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Friday.
While Team GB have been drawn alongside Senegal, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay in Group A, Brazil will meet Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand in Group C.
Pearce said the Olympics were about more than just the football tournament.
"I think it gives the country a feel-good factor. We hope we can play a part of it as football, but we'll also be supporting all the other athletes," he said.
"The more gold medals, silver and bronze medals we can achieve as a team collectively the better it's going to be. The feel-good factor in this country will be fantastic."
England goalkeeper Jack Butland said the Games were an opportunity for players to show what they can do on the big stage.
"It's a great chance for the players who don't get an opportunity to go to major tournaments and haven't broken into their senior sides just yet to showcase what they're about and on a huge stage," he said.
"This is massive. It's right up there in terms of football."
